GN’s “World Famous” Spam and Pasta

Prep:

a) Fill large pot with water and start bringing to boil for pasta. Add dash of salt if desired.

b) Cut Spam into approximately 10 slices (lengthwise) 1/8-1/4 in thick.

Cook:

1. Spray large skillet with non-stick spray and put on low heat. Place sliced Spam in a single layer in pan and cook approximately 3-5 minutes. Turn. This will probably take a couple rotations. You want the Spam to start crisping and browning but not cooked through and hard. When cooked but still a bit tender in middle, set aside on a plate and cover with paper towel if you want.

2. While Spam is cooking (between turning), the water should be ready for the pasta. We like rotini or something that has a bit of texture to hold the sauce, but almost any pasta that cooks in 7-10 minutes will do! Cook pasta according to box instructions. Drain and toss with optional olive oil if desired.

3. While pasta is finishing boiling, cut up the cooked Spam into roughly 1/2 inch pieces. (I use a fork to hold 2-3 slices and cut with a sharp knife.) Open can of spaghetti sauce – really, the Four Cheese kind tastes best but again, use what you have and like! (Homemade canned too!)

“Putting it all together”

In pasta pan, add cut up spam in with the cooked pasta. Pour the can of spaghetti sauce on top and mix. (Make sure to add about 1/8-1/4 cup of hot water to the can and stir around to get all the sauce out – pour that into the pot too!) Mix and stir over low heat about 3-5 minutes, until everything is hot again.

Serve with Parmesan cheese, a fresh garden salad and garlic bread. (I can tell you that for a “nice” meal with guests, I can spend more time grating fresh Parm, mincing garlic and melting butter to make garlic bread and prepping a salad than I do making the main course!)

P.S. If you don’t tell anyone, a lot of folks will eat it and be wonderfully complimentary. Until you tell them it’s ‘Spam.’ The reactions can be quite amusing!